Mileage rates for 2026
United Kingdom (HMRC approved mileage rates)
| Vehicle | From 6 April 2026 | 6 April 2011 to 5 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Car or van, first 10,000 business miles | 55p | 45p |
| Car or van, each mile over 10,000 | 25p | 25p |
| Motorcycle | 24p | 24p |
| Bicycle | 20p | 20p |
The 10,000-mile threshold counts all business miles in the tax year (6 April to 5 April), not per journey. Enter miles you've already done this tax year above so the calculator switches to 25p at the right point.
United States (IRS standard mileage rates)
| Purpose | 2025 | Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026 | From Jul 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 70¢ | 72.5¢ | 76¢ |
| Medical and military moving | 21¢ | 20.5¢ | 23.5¢ |
| Charity | 14¢ | 14¢ | 14¢ |
Sources: GOV.UK travel, mileage and fuel rates and IRS standard mileage rates. Last checked 26 October 2026.
Who can claim mileage?
- UK employees using their own vehicle for work can be paid up to the approved rate tax-free. If your employer pays less (or nothing), you can claim Mileage Allowance Relief from HMRC on the difference. Enter what your employer pays per mile to see it.
- UK self-employed people, including resellers, can use the same rates as "simplified expenses" for business journeys instead of working out actual vehicle costs. Once you've used simplified expenses for a vehicle, you must keep using them for it.
- US self-employed people can deduct business miles at the standard rate as an alternative to actual vehicle expenses. For most US employees, unreimbursed mileage isn't currently deductible on federal returns, but the rate is still the usual benchmark for employer reimbursement.
Ordinary commuting between home and a regular workplace doesn't count as business mileage in either country.
Mileage for resellers
Trips to charity shops, car boot sales, thrift stores, estate sales and the post office to drop off parcels can be business journeys for a reselling business. They add up fast. 40 miles a week of sourcing runs is over 2,000 miles a year, worth more than £1,100 at 55p. Log each trip with the date, where you went and why. If you sell on the side, the UK selling tax checker explains when that income has to be reported at all.
Keeping a record HMRC or the IRS will accept
- Record each trip when it happens: the date, start and end points, the business reason and the miles.
- Keep the records with your tax records: in the UK, at least 5 years after the 31 January filing deadline for that tax year; in the US, typically at least 3 years after you file.
- Use Export CSV regularly. The log is stored only in this browser, so clearing your browser data or switching device will lose it.
FAQ
Why is 55p shown for some trips and 45p isn't?
The car and van rate for the first 10,000 miles rose from 45p to 55p from 6 April 2026. Trips dated before then are calculated at 45p.
Why do my US trips use two different rates?
The IRS raised its 2026 rates mid-year. Trips up to June 30, 2026 use 72.5¢ for business, and trips from July 1 use 76¢. The calculator applies the right one by date.
Can I claim passengers?
In the UK, employers can pay up to 5p per passenger per business mile tax-free, but you can't claim tax relief if they don't pay it. It isn't included in the calculator.
Is this tax advice?
No. It's a calculator using the published rates. Check GOV.UK, IRS.gov or an accountant for your own situation.